Renovation in Kerr Hall may expose students to asbestos

Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Written by Renee Nat

The construction on the second floor of Kerr Hall has caused students to fear for their health and wonder if they will ever see their lockers again.

The construction began a few weeks ago and had the corridors set up like a murder scene, lined with red plastic paper and plastered with caution tape.

“There was no warning, just one day you arrived for class and there were no ceilings and tape everywhere,” said third-year fashion student Lindsay Johnson.

Campus Planning and Facilities explained in a statement that the school was upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in Kerr Hall, which required the removal of insulation.

Signs appeared shortly after, telling students to be aware of potential asbestos contamination. Asbestos is an insulation material banned mostly by the 1980’s due to health risks during its inhalation, including lung cancer. This has students wondering why they hadn’t been notified.

Fashion students in particular are being affected by this construction as it is happening around their classrooms, lockers and student lounge.

“I just got a random e-mail that told me I had to clear out my locker and relocate,” said fashion student Laura Crouse. What with their many supplies, locker space is crucial and prime real estate can be hard to come by.

Ryerson offered no alternative locker space and did not say when they students could return to their lockers.

Although most of the construction happens in the evening, it is still leaving the hallways in a mess during the day. Many students grumble about how ugly it is and how it feels ‘like we’re in a haunted house.’

The construction is also causing fashion students working the lounge problems.

“We do a lot of work after hours and it’s very disruptive. There will be music playing with materials and dust all over the floors,” Johnson described. “Plus I don’t know how healthy all of it is.”

The work should be finished by the end of this term and, says Campus Planning, isn’t hazardous to anyone’s health.